What's happening over the summer??

Over the summer, the various smallgroups will be doing their own thing and pastorate meetings won't be happening. But don't despair they'll be kicking off again in September. Do look out for various socially events happening as well though and speak to your smallgroup leader(s) for more info on what they are up to.

Here is a taster of some stuff that will be happening:

Fancy going Camping?

A bunch of pastorate guys are going camping in St Ive's, Cornwall, between Thurs 3th to Sunday 6th August. You may want to go for all or a bit of it. For more info contact Neil Dennison or Amy Foster who are the two main protagonists.

My Wedding

Ruth and I would love you to come to our wedding service: 12 August, 2pm at Woodies. Up there with giving our lives to Jesus, this will be one of the happiest days of our lives - do be a part of it.

Cleaning Church

Whilst on our recent wknd away a few people mentioned that they were aware that cleaning the church over the summer is a big job without a year team being around (it's a big job with them too I guess) and that they'd like to help out.

Without the year team, keeping the church clean over the summer largely falls into Lois' lap. We've therefore offered as a pastorate to give her some assistance. There will be various spring clean projects on the go and lots of other practical things like fence painting and hedge trimming that need doing too.

We'll look to organise something on either a Sunday afternoon or an evening during the week as there are loads of weddings happening on Saturdays.

Watch this space.

Love Bristol

Don't forget: Love Bristol kicks off tomorrow - it's not too late to book in/turn up...

Pastorate 25 July

Hello all,

Due to the close proximity of Love Bristol (starting the next day), end of the school term etc we've decided not to meet in the Upper Hall this Tuesday but to meet at 8pm on the Downs (by the watertower) for fun and frolicks (probably involving rounders bats, kites and such like).

We won't eat together - unless a group want to bring their own BBQ stuff along and/or eat in a pub.

If it's raining we'll adjourn in the nearest suitable public house.

Tuesday 25 July 8pm, by the watertower on the Downs

Oh what fun we had...

Photos from the Weekend Away:


The girls and the (ever so slightly immature) boys...


















On the Gondolas:




Our Rob Scott-Cook appreciation evening went down particularly well...

















Top marks goes to Tom for his ingenious "tequila worm"

We even did some serious stuff too (honest)...

What's God like?: The Paradoxes

"The God we worship is clothed in mystery. He reveals and He conceals. He invites and He hides. He confounds and He confides. The God who rests but never sleeps; who thunders and whispers, terrifies and befriends; whose anger lasts only a moment, but whose favour lasts a lifetime. All-consuming, yet kind. All-knowing, yet capable of forgetting the sins He forgives. The God who wounds and binds up, who injurs and heals. The King whose footstool is the earth, yet who humbly washed the earth from the feet of those He discipled. Who reigns in righteousness, yet carried our shamefulness...

The suffering servant who commands the universe. The sinless friend of sinners. The Saviour who hung in agony on beams of wood He Himself had called into being. Fearsome, yet welcoming. Unfathomable, yet knowable. The God of kings and beggars, presidents and paupers. Who fathers the fatherless and works through our weakness. Burning with holiness, yet refreshingly graceful.

He who is worshipped by the multitudes of heaven, yet rejoices over a single returning heart. Perfect in every way, yet able to help those who are being tempted...

This is the God we worship - the God of all mystery."(Matt Redman - the quote not the picture!)

The Paradoxes - that's Phil Lawrence's title this Tuesday (11 July).

Cooking: Simon & Jo's smallgroup
See you there, 7.15 for food in the Upper Hall as usual.